TTouch Newsletter Tellington TTouch Southern Africa Issue 10, Contents Page 1 Eugenie s Letter Page 3 Upcoming TTACT Trainings Page 4 Getting in TTouch with your dog - part 4 Page 5 Body Wrapping Page 10 Illustrations every dog owner will understand Page 11 Bits and Pieces Website of the month Book of the month TTouch South Africa www.ttouch.co.za Eugenie Chopin eugenie@ttouch.co.za 011 884-3156 Creator and Editor Nancy Horenburg naneky@gmail.com Eugenie s Letter Hi TTouch Friends, Thank goodness the rains have come although in some cases a bit too much at a time! I know here in Johannesburg, we have had crazy floods which takes a lot of water away from where it s needed. We are now looking for that lovely slow drizzle over night that leaves the garden properly soaked. Now is anyone else having a problem getting their dogs to go out in the rain? Skyla simply stands at the door and says You ve got to be kidding! I can hardly blame her, I may need to get out the umbrella and go with her myself next time. As the thunderstorms came, also came many of you looking for ways to help their dogs get over the fear of thunder. We have had numerous requests for Thundershirts and body wraps, so it s no coincidence that Nancy has included body wraps in this Newsletter! While we are no longer importing Thundershirts as there are now many opportunities for people to buy them elsewhere; we do have a bit of old stock in the extreme sizes. Sizes only XXL, XXS However, we can offer you the cheaper alternative of body wraps. The successful use of wraps was the original inspiration "I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being." Abraham Lincoln 1
Eugenie s Letter for the thunder shirt/anxiety wrap. You ll find all of our wraps at www.ttouch.co.za with specials available with a wrap book and pins. The wraps are basically elastic bandages that we use to give the body a feeling of comfort a bit like a swaddling blanket around a baby. If you would like more info or to order, just email us at info@ttouch.co.za and we ll send you options or even the body wrap article that you can also find on our website: www.ttouch.co.za/what-is-ttouch/body-wraps - but make sure to see the wrap article below in this Newsletter. Just a tip on using wraps, do make sure that you use it on a daily basis and not just when the thunder happens. This will help the nervous system stay in Parasympathetic mode so that when the thunder does roll, it won t be as hard to settle. Also if you only use when the thunder has started, there is a possibility that the dog/cat will associate the wrap with the scary thing thunder! With all of the Holidays coming up, please if travelling, leave your pets at home with safety measures in place, like a good care-giver and proper fencing ; making sure there is plenty of water, a good place to get out of the weather (preferably inside the house) and enough food until you return from holiday. You also want to give any care-giver emergency numbers such as friends who will be in your area, your Vet and info on where is the nearest emergency Vet. If you are travelling with your pet, be sure they are tagged in case they get lost, and that you travel with a dedicated space for them in the car, preferably a crate that will protect them from anything falling on them during the ride. They need a lot of water and rest stops (make sure you have them on a harness/leash they can t slip out of) and if there is any anxiety for the long trip rescue remedy might help. It s certainly worth a try. In closing, I want to share a wonderful experience I had last weekend in the Pilansberg! This guy started to walk directly towards the car, so you ll see that the first pic is with the window open and the second with the window closed and yes, it was that close! Feeling so grateful and so Blessed to have this amazing experience with Mother Nature! Warmest regards, Eugenie Instructor for Tellington TTouch Companion Animals eugenie@ttouch.co.za www.ttouch.co.za 011 884-3156 Tellington TTouch Southern Africa 2
Upcoming Trainings Upcoming Tellington TTouch Trainings For Companion Animals and Horses You need no previous Experience to join these Trainings These trainings are for any person who wants to better understand their animals as well as for those who would like to work with animals themselves. TTouch for You Workshop: 2 Day TTouch for You Date:2017 Mar 18 19 Venue: Sandton Price: Full Price R2200 -Deposit R1200 -Early Bird Discount R1900 expires 2017 Jan 18 Robyn Hood Advanced TTouch Contact: Eugenie Chopin Workshop: Advanced Ttouch for Companion Animals for Guild Members at: info@ttouch.co.za on: 011 884-3156 Date: 2017 Mar 21-23 Venue: TBA Sandton or Midrand, JHB Gauteng Price: Full price R3500 -Deposit R1800 -Early Bird price R3150 expires 2017 Jan 21 Gauteng Practitioner Training for Companion Animals Workshop: 5 Day training for Companion animals Date: 2017 Mar 25 29 Venue: TBA Midrand or Sandton, JHB Gauteng Price: Full price R5200 -Deposit R2800 -Early Bird price R4680 expires 2017 Jan 25 Workshop: 3 Day training for Companion Animals Date: 2017 Mar 25 27 Venue: TBA Midrand or Sandton, JHB Gauteng Price: Full price R3500 -Deposit R1800 -Early Bird price R3150 expires 2017 Jan 25 Gauteng Practitioner Training for Horses Workshop: 5 Day training for Horses Date: 2017 Apr 1 5 Venue: Donnybrook Stables, Glenferness Midrand Price: Full price R5200 -Deposit R2800 -Early Bird price R4680 expires 2017 Feb 1 Contact: Lindy Dekker Workshop: 3 Day training for Horses at: equibalance@iafrica.com on: 083 616 0577 Date: 2017 April 1 3 Venue: Donnybrook Stables, Glenferness Midrand Price: Full price R3500 -Deposit R1800 -Early Bird price R3150 expires 2017 Feb 1 Cape Town Practitioner Training For Companion Animals Workshop: 5 Day training for Companion Animals Presented by: Edie Jane Eaton Date: 2017 May 25 29 Venue: TBA Price: Full price R5200 -Deposit R2800 -Early Bird price R4680 expires 2017 Mar 25 Workshop: 3 Day training for Companion Animals Contact: Eugenie Chopin Presented by: Edie Jane Eaton at: info@ttouch.co.za Date: 2017 May 25 27 on: 011 884-3156 Venue: TBA Price: Full price R3500 -Deposit R1800 -Early Bird price R3150 expires 2017 Mar 25 Edie Jane Eaton For more details, click here Tellington TTouch Southern Africa 3
Getting in TTouch with Your Dog Getting In TTouch with Your Dog By Linda Tellington-Jones This is part 4 of a series that will include some parts of Linda Tellington-Jones s book: Getting in TTouch with Your Dog. The book in your hands is worth more than the parts in a newsletter, so please buy the book and gain insight, information and wisdom to help and guide you in your relationship with your dog. You will learn about a gentle approach to influencing behaviour, health and performance. Book available from Eugenie for ZAR 300 eugenie@ttouch.co.za Tellington TTouch Training Equipment We use special equipment to help dogs find their balance - not just physical balance, but mental and emotional. In the dog world there is new equipment being developed every year and we are constantly searching for the best solutions for dogs and their owners. 3 he Body Wrap For security and better body awareness The Body Wrap enhances your dog s sense of his own body and makes him more confident in his movement and behaviours. It is especially beneficial for dogs afraid of load noises, ones that are nervous and hyperactive or that panic when riding in a car. The Body Wrap also helps injured dogs to recover, and it is helpful for older, stiff, and arthritic dogs. There are several versions of wrapping. Experiment to find out the type of Body Wrap most appropriate for your dog. HOW TO You can use elastic bandages (wraps) from the drug Store (Ace bandages Work best). Make sure that the bandage lies flat on the dog and that long-haired dogs don't have their coat ruffled or sticking up. When the wrap is too loose it loses its effect; however, you don t want it so tight that it restricts movement. To help dogs frightened of thunder and other loud noise, make sure the wrap is snug enough to give comfort, but not tight. If your dog seems uncomfortable, take the Body Wrap off. WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: 3-Head Wrap The Head Wrap is good preparation for wearing a head halter or preparing the dog for TTouches on the head. 4-5-Half Wrap The Half Wrap is used mainly on dogs nervous about having their hindquarters wrapped, or on dogs that have knee or hip problems. Place the center of the bandage across the dog s chest, then cross the ends on the back and under the belly. Take both ends up to the back and secure them with a safety pin. You can pull the back part of the wrap forward when working with male dogs. 6-Half Wrap - A Second Version This variation of the Half Wrap starts on top of the neck with one-third of the bandage on the left side and two-thirds on the right side. Bring both ends forward, come between the front legs and take the longer end once around the belly. Attach the ends of the bandage with a safety pin. 4 5 6 Page 102 and 103 Tellington TTouch Southern Africa 4
Body Wrapping TTouch Practitioners Explain Canine "Body Wrapping" December 2002 Issue Strange but true: body wrapping seems to calm and focus dogs Does anything feel better than a perfect hug? companion animals in Chester, New York, appreciates the behavior changes that wraps produce because her first TTouch clients were aggressive dogs. Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is an expert on the therapeutic benefits of hugs. As an autistic child, she felt overwhelmed by most of the hugs she received from people, but crawling under sofa cushions soothed her. The pressure felt even better if her sister sat on the cushions. Grandin visited a relative s ranch and noticed how the pressure of a squeeze chute into which cattle were herded for branding quickly calmed them. Realizing that similar deep pressure might help her own over-stimulated nerves, she designed a padded box into which she could climb and press a lever to bring its side boards together. Now known as the Hug Box or Squeeze Machine, Grandin s invention has calmed autistic children and adults around the world. While developing her famous Tellington TTouch (pronounced tee-touch ) therapy, Linda Tellington-Jones explored the calming effects of gentle pressure on animals, especially dogs and horses. Most TTouch work is performed with the hands by making large and small circles all over the body, but to provide consistent pressure for longer periods, she wrapped the animals in elastic bandages. Karen Doyle, a TTouch practitioner for It s not dress-ups! A "T-Shirt Wrap" is a therapeutic device that can help dogs with physical and emotional problems. They all had tight muscles in the legs and rear, Doyle says. Not enough blood in the brain and too much in their ready-to-launch hind ends prevented these dogs from thinking or learning. They were on automatic pilot, reacting on instinct alone. Gentle TTouch and body wraps interrupted this energy flow and reconnected the front and hind ends, which helped bring their minds and bodies into balance. In addition, Doyle worked with dogs that were timid, afraid of being left alone, afraid of loud noises, sore from injuries or arthritis, or uncoordinated. The most dramatic improvements occurred when the dogs owners made the wraps part of their regular routine in Tellington TTouch Southern Africa 5
Body Wrapping combination with TTouch circles, lifts, and slides. At first they did it daily, she says. Even 10 minutes at a time made a difference, and for dogs who were afraid of thunder or had separation anxiety, the wraps could be worn for longer periods. As the dogs gained confidence, became more relaxed, or showed increased coordination or flexibility, the wraps were used for maintenance once a week or whenever it seemed appropriate. Like all of the TTouch patterns and exercises, body wraps have a cumulative effect. It s a gradual process, says Doyle. The neurological system receives information and stores it like a computer, so even small doses are effective. Be sure to use a reassuring tone of voice and be generous with praise or treats to help the dog relax and adjust. Even those who aren t familiar with TTouch can massage the dog s ears to help make the wrap more effective. Start at home or wherever you and your dog are most comfortable, she suggests, and when you feel ready, move to other areas and activities, including outdoor walks and training classes. Even wearing the wrap for short periods, like 5 or 10 minutes, can produce positive results. For more information, see Linda Tellington-Jones s new book, Getting in TTouch with Your Dog, which describes several exercises that incorporate body wraps. The T-Shirt Wrap and Half-Body Wrap are recommended for dogs who have never worn a wrap, as well as dogs who have painful hips or knees, which might be difficult to wrap on the first try. Full-Body Wraps connect front and back ends, which can improve coordination as well as behavior. Full-Body Wraps that hug the hind end stay in place on dogs who have short coats, sloping hips, or no tail. Before you start, says Doyle, write down all of your dog s noticeable symptoms, habits, and behaviors. Check the list after a few days, then in a few weeks. You may be surprised at the changes that take place. Continue using a wrap as long as it keeps producing improvements. When you reach a plateau, switch to a new configuration and see if it makes a difference. When you re satisfied with your dog s condition or behavior, discontinue the wraps or use them occasionally for maintenance. There is no official right way to do a body wrap as long as the bandage is kept flat and comfortably snug and as long as the dog is safe. Never leave a body wrap on a dog who is unattended. Check to be sure that the bandage doesn t interfere with blood circulation or body movement, says Doyle, without being loose or baggy. The whole point of wrapping is to provide snug support. Be careful with the male anatomy and be sure the wrap doesn t obstruct elimination in either gender. With these guidelines in mind, you can create any kind of wrap and it will be good for something. T-Shirt Wrap This is the simplest body wrap. Use an appropriate size, such as a child s T-shirt for small dogs, an adult medium or large for midsize dogs, and extra large for large dogs. Place the T-shirt over the dog s head backward, with the front of the shirt facing up. Guide the dog s front paws through the arm holes. Gather fabric at the hem and tie the ends in a knot at the waist. Variation: Cut an X in a plastic can lid, thread the hem through, and pull it comfortably tight. The lid will hold the fabric in place. The neurological system receives information and stores it like a computer, so even small doses are effective. Tellington TTouch Southern Africa 6
Body Wrapping Elastic Bandage Wraps Most TTouch instructors use Ace bandages, which are very stretchy and beige in color. They come in 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-inch widths and 4.5-yard lengths. The 4- and 6-inch-wide bandages also come in 10-yard lengths. Bandages are held in place with diaper safety pins. When fastening wraps on the back, do not pin directly on the spine. Use a 2-inch bandage for small dogs, a 3- or 4-inch bandage for large dogs, and a 4- or 6- inch bandage for giant breeds. Small dogs need only one 4.5-yard length, large dogs need two, and giant breeds may need three. Trim excess elastic as needed. Half Body Wraps are recommended for dogs who have never worn a wrap, as well as dogs who have painful hips or knees, which might be difficult to wrap on the first try. Half-Body Wrap Place the center of the wrap at the center of the dog s upper chest. Bring the ends up on either side to cross over the shoulders, then down behind the front legs, crossing under the belly, and up to the center of the back. Fasten the ends with a safety pin. Variation: As the dog adjusts, pull the pinned portion back to the lower spine. Later, pull it back around the hips at the top of the tail. These adjustments provide some of the benefits of a Full-Body Wrap and help the dog accept that configuration. Variation: Place the Half-Body Wrap over a T- shirt. Full-Body Wrap Leaving the Half-Body Wrap in place, fold a second bandage in half to find its center. Slip one end under the pinned part of the Half- Body Wrap and pull it through until its center is under the pin. Fold it over so it is two layers thick and moving from the waist straight back toward the tail. Remove the pin and use it to secure all four layers at this intersection, or use a second pin to do this, avoiding the top of the spine. Separate the two ends and pull them under the abdomen on either side in front of the hind legs, back between the legs, then up on either side of the tail. Secure the ends on the lower back with another safety pin. Alternative Method: Use a single length of elastic or two bandages pinned together. Place the center of the wrap over the center of the dog s chest. Pull the ends back and up to cross over the shoulders, down to cross under the belly, up to cross over the small of the back, then through the inner thighs from front to back and up on either side of the tail to the cross at the small of the back. Secure the ends at this intersection with a safety pin. Variation (either method): Instead of pulling the ends up on either side of the tail, wrap the left end around the left hind leg and pin it in place at the top of the thigh; wrap the right leg the same way. This variation engages the hind legs. The wrap should be snug but not tight enough to interfere with walking. Variation: Use a single length of elastic or two bandages pinned together. Holding one short end, tie a loose overhand knot around the dog s neck. Pull the rest of the bandage straight down the spine to the base of the tail. At the right side of the tail, bring the bandage down Tellington TTouch Southern Africa 7
Body Wrapping inside the right rear leg and toward the front of the leg, then up and across the small of the back to the left side. This creates a flank-toflank cross-piece. Thread the wrap through the inner thigh of the left hind leg, front to back, and up the rear on the left side of the tail. Tuck the wrap under the flank-to-flank cross-piece and bring it up to the neck. Untie the temporary knot. Pull the ends to the front on either side of the neck, cross them in front of the chest and continue around the shoulders on each side. Pull the ends to the middle or lower back, just in front of the flank-to-flank cross-piece. Pin the ends of the wrap to the elastic that runs under the flank-to-flank portion. The final wrap resembles a figure 8 with the safety pin at the center of the 8. Variation: As above, but leave the knot in place and fasten the second end at the shoulder with a safety pin. Full Body Wraps are especially useful for dogs who lack coordination and dogs with behavior problems. The Anxiety Wrap When Indiana dog trainer Susan Sharpe discovered correction-free training methods, she studied clicker training, TTouch, behavior modification, acupressure, and massage. She was already familiar with Temple Grandin s Hug Box and had recently read Molecules of Emotion, in which Candace Pert, Ph.D., explains that neuropeptides and their receptors are the biochemicals of emotion, carrying information in a vast network that links the material world of molecules with the nonmaterial world of the psyche. All of these things converged for me when I looked for ways to help my German Shepherd, who became aggressive during a serious illness, says Sharpe. I also wanted to help the dogs I train and those that vacation at my doggie resort. Sharpe tried T-shirts, then added duct tape to see if a snugger, more secure fit would make a difference. The dogs became much more relaxed, she says. I continued using this method until one day a man thought his dog had been in an accident because of the way he was wrapped. Sharpe decided to design a garment that would work like the duct-taped T-shirt but would look more attractive. I wanted to engage the dog s hindquarters, too, she says, which the T-shirt didn t do. For help she turned to Joyce Walker, a friend who rescues Greyhounds and sews coats for them. Together, they tested more than 80 prototypes before perfecting the Anxiety Wrap, a sturdy, stretchy vest that hugs the torso like a body stocking. An adjustable panel under the belly enhances the fit, as do strategically placed draw-strings, and elastic threaded through the vest at the back can be attached to the hind legs or crossed over the tail for a snug fit at the rear. It comes in black in nine sizes, from toy breeds at $65 to XXL at $75, with wholesale discounts for shops, trainers, dog clubs, shelters, and rescue organizations. Custom fitting is available as well. How can wrapping a dog cause lasting behavior changes? According to Indianapolis neurobiologist Shereen D. Farber, Ph.D., any type of trauma can damage nerve receptors, Tellington TTouch Southern Africa 8
Body Wrapping leading to exaggerated responses to stimuli. Applying constantly maintained pressure provides an unchanging, quieting stimulus that causes the receptors to adapt and modify their thresholds in a cumulative manner, she explains. For more than four years, thunder, gunshots, construction equipment, and acorns landing on the roof triggered panic attacks in Caroline Farr s eight-year-old Pharoah Hound, Kody, who lives with her in Pennsylvania. Kody was also extremely touch-sensitive and did not enjoy petting or massage. Then the Anxiety Wrap arrived. Kody loved it from the moment it went on, says Farr. On the 4th of July, just after it arrived, he wore it at a large open house, and everyone noticed his transformation. All the mothers said, Swaddling, of course!, referring to the ancient custom of calming unhappy babies by wrapping them closely. He stayed relaxed during the fireworks, and thunder no longer sends him running. In Michigan, seven-year-old Chase, a Golden Retriever, suffered from severe thunder phobia and separation anxiety. After he injured his mouth demolishing a camper door, Chase s vet prescribed Valium and offered euthanasia as the only option. As a last resort, owners David and Kay Snell tried the Anxiety Wrap. Within the first five minutes of wearing it, says Kay, he laid down, totally relaxed. He no longer pants and paces during storms or climbs into bed with us. After a month of use, Chase still has separation anxiety during camping trips, but as long as he s wearing the wrap, he stays calm. Once we went on a 20-minute bike ride and forgot to put it on, she says, and when we returned, the screen door was ripped out. We learned our lesson and will always use his Anxiety Wrap when he s left alone. Unlike elastic bandages, the Anxiety Wrap can safely stay on dogs that are left unattended. Lyda Long, MD, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, bought an Anxiety Wrap for her Siberian Husky, Karma, whose traumatic experience at a dog show left the six-month-old puppy fearful, shy, and anxious around strangers. For the next eight months, Dr. Long used desensitization techniques, counterconditioning, herbal remedies, and other natural treatments with slow and limited success. The Anxiety Wrap gave us amazing and almost immediate excellent results, she says, and Karma continues to improve each time she wears it. Susan Sharpe encourages people to introduce the Anxiety Wrap before anxiety-causing conditions are present. You don t want the dog to associate wearing the Anxiety Wrap with something that causes distress, she explains. For thunderstorms, put it on when the animal begins to show signs of bad weather approaching, then remove it after the dog no longer shows these symptoms. If a storm has been forecast and you have to leave for the day, put the Anxiety Wrap on your dog before you go and take it off when you get back or after the storm has ended. Some dogs will calm down immediately, while others may go through three or more storms before they respond. For improved training, she recommends putting the Anxiety Wrap on before class, using lots of positive reinforcement during the class, and removing the wrap after. For hyperactivity, reward the dog with treats, calm praise, or petting as soon as he or she begins to show signs of calmness. -by CJ Puotinen http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/5_12/features/canine-body-wrapping_5506-1.html Tellington TTouch Southern Africa 9
Illustrations Every Dog Owner Will Understand Tellington TTouch Southern Africa 10
Bits and Pieces Website of the month Bits and Pieces http://dogtime.com/ Your Must-Read Dogtime Stories, Care Tips, Funny Pics and More! At DogTime, our mission is to keep dogs out of shelters and get them adopted by good homes by equipping experienced and novice owners alike with the important information needed to make them, and their dogs, very happy. DogTime covers all things dog. Book of the month Never Ending Animal Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft4fwpdikf8 The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs The Other End of the Leash shares a revolutionary, new perspective on our relationship with dogs, focusing on our behavior in comparison with that of dogs. An applied animal behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell looks at humans as just another interesting species, and muses about why we behave the way we do around our dogs, how dogs might interpret our behavior, and how to interact with our dogs in ways that bring out the best in our four-legged friends. Years ago I watched two men try to turn a panicked cow around by yelling Turn around! Turn around! The cow s foot was about to slip into a gap, and she was at risk of breaking her leg. The cow, having not been trained to turn around on cue, tried even harder to go the wrong way. The men, panicking now themselves, continued to yell Turn around, but louder and louder each time, as if volume itself could propel the bovine backwards. Ah, humans! Like the aroused apes that we can be, we often use amplitude to try to get what we want, whether it works or not. It usually doesn t. This is as true in our interactions with dogs as with anything else. Years ago, a student at the University of Wisconsin and I recorded dog owners asking their dogs to sit by just using their voice. As we do in other contexts like talking to a non-english speaker for example the dog owners consistently said sit louder if the dog didn t sit the first time asked. However, volume does little to accomplish what we want. It provides no more information to the dog about what to do, and often adds stress and emotional arousal to the scenario. Getting loud is more likely to scare the intended recipient, which impairs learning and makes it even harder for your dog to do what you want. Given that we ARE human, how do we squelch the tendency to get louder when our dog doesn t do what we ask and we are a tad, uh, frustrated? Here s some advice that will help, using the common cue sit as an example: Read more Tellington TTouch Southern Africa 11